Specialty

Dr. hopkins specializes in the following:

Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Sub-specialties: Orthopedic Surgeon

Description

Orthopedic spine surgeons are physicians trained as either neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons and have specialized in treating diseases or injuries of the spine. Orthopedics is the study of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system, while neurosurgery specializes in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of brain and spinal-cord disorders. Orthopedic spine surgeons can treat acute back and neck pain with a range of newly developed microscopic techniques, including minimally invasive spinal decompression, which is designed to relieve symptoms of a herniated disc (sometimes referred to as a ruptured disc or pinched nerve) or spinal cord degeneration.

Education

Dr. hopkins was educated at the following institutions:

Medical School Attended:

university of alabama school of medicine

Year of Graduation:

1997

Licensing

Dr. hopkins received medical licensing as follows:

Medical License:

Received in 1999

State Medical License:

Issued in the state of California

Insurance

Dr. hopkins accepts insurance from these companies:

blue cross blue shield

cigna

united healthcare

Acceptance of particular Insurance Plans may vary, based on different office locations. As a result, we've listed Plans accepted at different locations.

Background

See what state and federal disciplinary actions (if any) have been reported against this doctor in the past five years.

Disciplinary Actions:

Not Available

Disciplinary actions are actions taken to punish or restrict physicians who have demonstrated professional misconduct. They are intended to correct the doctor's misconduct. Physicians with disciplinary actions may continue to practice, depending on the board's decision. Physicians who have had a disciplinary action in one state will often move to another state where he/she may have a clean record in that new state. Lifescript's Doctor Finder compiles disciplinary action information from all 50 states, you'll know if a physician has a disciplinary action in more than one state.

Orthopedic spine surgeons specialize in treating diseases and injuries of the spine. Orthopedics is the study of diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and skin).

When would I visit an orthopedic spine surgeon and what conditions does a spine surgeon treat?

You would visit an orthopedic spine surgeon for treatment of spinal injuries or disorders. Patients are typically referred to an orthopedic surgeon by a general practitioner.

Orthopedic spine surgeons treat acute back and neck pain with newly developed microscopic techniques, including minimally invasive spinal decompression. Invasive spinal decompression is designed to relieve spinal cord degeneration or symptoms of a spinal disk herniation (herniated disc, sometimes referred to as a ruptured disc). Spinal fusion is surgery to weld two vertebra together, a process to correct spinal injury, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), spondylolisthesis (vertebrae out of alignment), or herniated disk. Vertebroplasty can be used to treat arthritis or fractures of the spine.

Disc herniation is often the result of sitting for long hours on a daily basis, or a traumatic injury as a result of lifting a heavy object the wrong way. Genetics may also play a factor in spinal disc herniation.

Cervical disc herniation occurs in the neck, most often between the fifth and sixth, and the sixth and seventh vertebra. Pain from a cervical disc herniation can affect the back of the skull as well as the neck, shoulder girdle, shoulder, arm and hand.

Lumbar disc herniation occurs in the lower back, and symptoms can affect the lower back, buttocks, thigh and feet. More ominous symptoms resulting from disc herniation can include inability to urinate or stool incontinence. The sciatic nerve is the most commonly affected nerve, causing symptoms of sciatica (pain in the lower back and legs). Femoral nerve damage typically causes a numb or tingling sensation in the legs and feet, as well as a possible burning sensation in the hips and legs.